Tech and engineering companies shine in Best for Vets Employers list

Technology, telecoms, engineering and science companies feature strongly in the 2014 Best for Vets Employers list.

The Military Times list of top employers for hiring military veterans included 17 technology, telecoms, engineering and science firms out of 59 on the list.

To make the list, companies have to complete a 90-question survey to demonstrate their efforts to connect with military veterans and provide them with an environment to succeed. Each business is evaluated on its focus, culture and policies that cater for ex-military personnel.

Technology companies listed include Verizon Communications (2nd), BAE Systems (4th), AT&T (12th), Intel (17th), Accenture (22nd) and EMC (50th).

International IT services provider FDM Group was ranked 44th on the list. The company’s Veteran Programme offers training through its FDM Academy, which has been reviewed and approved by the American Military University for the award of up to 21 transferrable semester-hour credits towards a bachelor of science degree in IT.

In August, Darrell Powell-Lee, a veteran who successfully completed service provider FDM’s Veteran Programme to become an FDM IT consultant based in New York, spoke to Computer Weekly about his experiences.

In 2013, FDM launched its UK Ex-Forces Programme, which offers former military personnel IT training in several business and technical disciplines. The training is followed by at least two years' commercial experience at FDM.

Brandt Rousseaux, vice-president of FDM North America and a retired US Coast Guard commander, said: “I am thrilled to see FDM recognised as a 2014 Best for Vets Employer. Veterans made up 22% of our 2013 new hires, and the FDM Veterans Initiative continues to grow on these successes into 2014.

“Our former military employees bring incredibly valuable talent and experience to our business. It is a testament to FDM’s commitment to veterans that we have been selected for this honour."

Amanda Miller, editor of Military Times' Edge magazine, said: “As with all of the Best for Vets rankings, Best for Vets: Employers is an editorially independent news project that evaluates the many factors that make a company a good fit for military veterans and spouses.”